Pieniny National Park (Poland) in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-25. Check linked official notices before travel.

Pieniny National Park in Poland combines rocky viewpoints above the Dunajec Gorge with forest and meadow walks in Lesser Poland. Trzy Korony and Sokolica are the principal mountain objectives. Decide whether you want a summit walk or a river outing, then choose the correct village approach. This guide covers the Polish park, Pieniński Park Narodowy, rather than Slovakia’s separate PIENAP.

Viewpoints above the Dunajec

• Trzy Korony: marked approaches start from Krościenko nad Dunajcem and Sromowce Niżne. Check the current route before following a standard loop.
• Sokolica: another major viewpoint, with an approach from Szczawnica that depends on a river crossing.
• Dunajec Gorge: a river outing offers a different view of the protected landscape and requires its own service and access arrangements.

Separate viewpoint access from river trips

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Slippery paths and steep edges

Mud, wet leaves, and winter conditions can make a short-looking mountain path difficult. Stay behind barriers and off unmarked rocks. Check the forecast before entering exposed terrain. Do not assume the ferry on a Szczawnica–Sokolica route will operate when you arrive; confirm it before committing to that approach.

Protect the cliffs and meadows

Use marked trails, keep quiet, and leave plants and fungi untouched. Do not enter meadows or cross viewpoint barriers. Pet dogs, camping, fires, and recreational drone flying are prohibited under the park’s visitor rules. Swimming in the Dunajec Gorge is prohibited, and routine landing along its protected banks is not permitted.

Arrange the activity you will use

Keep the viewpoint ticket if you plan to use both paid viewpoints that day. For a traditional raft trip, use the operator identified by the park and confirm the departure point and how you will return to your car. River transport, the passenger crossing, and viewpoint admission are different services.

Choose between Krościenko, Sromowce, and Szczawnica

Krościenko nad Dunajcem provides the park headquarters and marked walking approaches. Sromowce Niżne serves another Trzy Korony approach; Sromowce Wyżne–Kąty is associated with traditional raft departures. Consult the official route list and current closure notice together. A river trip generally finishes away from its starting point.

Nearby parks

• Gorce National Park: the Ochotnica side lies toward the mountains northwest of Krościenko and offers another road-based visit.
• Popradzki Park Krajobrazowy: the Radziejowa range in the Beskid Sądecki lies on the Szczawnica side of this regional area. Choose a specific signed access point for a separate outing.

Pick a walk or a river experience

Plan a Trzy Korony loop from one village, or choose Sokolica after resolving the crossing and return arrangements. A gorge trip is a separate option for seeing the river landscape. Use the education pavilions to understand the habitats before hiking rather than trying to combine every activity into one day.

Seasonal education pavilions

The park has education pavilions in Szczawnica and the Sromowce villages, with seasonal opening schedules. The Sromowce Niżne pavilion has no architectural barriers; the Szczawnica pavilion provides an accessible ground floor and toilet. These building-specific details do not describe the summit trails. Check the pavilion information for the relevant season.

A long history of cross-border conservation

Protection in the Pieniny

The Polish park was created on June 1, 1932. It was re-established after World War II in 1954, and its boundaries expanded in 1996. Cooperation across the border does not merge the Polish and Slovak visitor arrangements.

Cliffs, woodland, and meadow habitats

Rocky slopes, forests, and meadows support the park’s biodiversity. Conservation work for the Apollo butterfly is a particular part of the park’s identity. Keeping feet off meadows and leaving vegetation intact helps protect habitat beyond the viewpoints.

Contact the Polish park

Pieniński Park Narodowy, ul. Jagiellońska 107B, 34-450 Krościenko nad Dunajcem, Poland. Tourist information: +48 535 500 627. Email: [email protected]. The official park website supplies the map and activity information.